The Sacramento State Hornets are set to join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a football‑only member beginning with the 2026 season, according to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports on Saturday evening. ESPN confirmed Sacramento State’s move soon after.
MAC presidents today approved for the league to move forward with the addition of Sacramento State as a football-only member, sources tell @YahooSports. The school will pay an entry fee of $18 million.
Finalization of the deal is imminent. Hornets will begin play this season.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 15, 2026
Sources: The MAC has voted to formally add FCS Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member starting in 2026. The cost of entrance is expected to be $18 million and a deal is expected to be announced in the upcoming days. pic.twitter.com/SpjPVXJiIt
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 15, 2026
Sacramento State’s move to the MAC is expected to be officially announced in the next few days.
The move is significant for both the Hornets and the MAC as realignment continues to reshape the FBS landscape. The decision elevates one of the Big Sky’s most consistent programs of the past decade into the FBS ranks while giving the MAC a foothold on the West Coast for the first time in its history.
The Hornets, who have reached the FCS Playoffs in three of the past five seasons, will make the transition to FBS competition over the next two years. They will become the 138th member of the FBS, joining North Dakota State, who is moving up to the FBS and Mountain West Conference this fall.
Sacramento State will replace Northern Illinois in the MAC, as the Huskies are moving to the Mountain West. The Hornets will be the 13th member of the MAC, joining returning members Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Toledo, UMass, and Western Michigan.
Before anyone goes “tHe mAC iS rUinEd 😭😭😭”, they’re on the brink of collapse anyway, and Sac State is only here until the conference sinks.
Why do you say that—-where are all the schools going?
Give me some details here.
This is fun. Sacramento in the MAC. DeKalb in the Mountain West.
Well, I’m happy for Sac State. I’m glad they were able to make it work.
Paying $18 million to play 2 time zones away on a Tuesday is crazy…
NDSU is paying to play 2-4 time zones away. How’s that any better?
Well, Woody finally gets his wish, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this kills their football program. Maybe all that money will help the MAC survive a week or two.
This is kind of the opposite of when Reggie Jackson joined the Yankees back in the 70’s and said, ‘I didn’t come here to be a star, I brought mine with me.’ This marriage is doomed to failure.
Very happy for Sacramento State. I hope this move is a success!
PAC 12 is a much better fit for Sacramento State MAC heaven only knows.
Come on everybody. Obviously this move is intended to be temporary, and only last a few years, at best. Sacramento State is trying to establish itself in FBS and play well enough to eventually get a call from the MWC (or – pipe dream – Pac-12).
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In the meantime, the MAC gets to split $18 million. Considering that North Dakota State has joined the MWC for football-only, I would not be surprised if the MAC adds South Dakota State for football-only in the coming weeks, to reach an even 14.
There’s no guarantee that the money is split amongst the members. Could be used to go after a stronger established FBs program or even help another fcs elevate to FBs. Paying that $5 million fee to go FBs could entice someone.
100 percent. Sac State needed an in–the MAC gave it to them. In a few years, Sac State will play elsewhere.
The MAC, once the most stable of conferences is seeign some unrest. NIU left and Ohio has been flirting/exploring other opportunities.
Realignment is not going away, big changes are coming down the road.
MAC
American
Pac 12
MWC
Sun Belt
CUSA
Are we thinking that all 6 wil survive? I do not
To quote George Jetson “Jane! Stop this crazy thing!”
Is Toledo really better off in the MWC than the MAC?
Is the MWC really that much better off with Toledo instead of Sacramento State?
I struggle to how there is enough difference in the TV or other value of Toledo and Sacramento State to offset the cost of travel, before even considering physical toll on it on the players.
Pac 12 is sitting right there!
Pac 12 is set for public STATE school acadenic and athletic renaissance!
These are the schools of the “hard working middle class”; The schools that lifts all ships!
The tide is comming.
Get in the boat and get ready!
Great schools, giant conference name recognision, public state school academic and athletic recognition and excellence, travel ability of the fans,… and then this???
State, State, State…!
Just plain nonsense!
Was that too much?😅
I think the Pac-12 rebuffed them. Sac State has been trying to get to FBS for several years. Guess the MAC was the girl that finally said yes.
PAC-12 thought they werent ready for them.
The MAC was the only conference to say “yes” to Sacramento State, so of course they were going to jump to the MAC, and just await a new conference offer in the coming years.
Someone should ask the MAC: Why didn’t you make a deal with North Dakota State before the MW did? Wouldn’t you rather have NDSU than Sacramento State?
Mountain West is the better conference
I don’t think NDSU wanted any part of the MAC
Nothing screams “Mid America” than Sacramento State-UMass. We should just name conferences after names like the NHL used to. ACC-Bowden, Big Ten-Schembechler, Big 12-Edwards, SEC-Bryant, Pac 12-Price?, MAC-Parseghian, Sun Belt-Bower.
I can’t wait for the first game between sac st and ball st, in short it will be call the ball sac game.
champion of the commentz. i also want to draw attention to how desperate and pathetic all parties involved in this deal are. you are all losers and are destroying tradition daily
The NCAA reportedly rebuffed Sac State’s desire to move to FBS as an Independent.
Does anybody understand how or why the NCAA has jurisdiction over Sac State’s conference affiliation, or lack thereof?
20.5.2.1 Reclassification from Football Championship Subdivision to Football Bowl Subdivision.
20.5.2.1.1 Eligibility for Reclassification. Before a Football Championship Subdivision institution may apply for reclassification to the Football Bowl Subdivision, the institution must receive a bona fide invitation for membership from a Football Bowl Subdivision conference or a conference that previously met the definition of a Football Bowl Subdivision conference (see Bylaw 20.02.9).
Thank you for the prompt and precise response, Kevin.